allthingsonelove.com Review: Smoothies vs. Multiple Sclerosis

This post is a continuation from a previous post over how I “fixed” my stomach issues. The FIRST part can be found here: MS and Constipation

Yes, yes and once more, yes. It is week two of “fixing my stomach” without prescription medication and I am still determined to keep it together the only way that seems to work, MY DAMN WAY.

We’re going to open things with a quick review. I THINK I messed up my stomach with poor diet & excessive drinking. When I say poor diet, I’m talking about chips, candy, sweets, ice cream and stuff like that. I am a Pescatarian (means I only eat fish and seafood) to help manage my Multiple Sclerosis symptoms and other various digestive diseases, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc. The diet change has been a MONUMENTAL success but constipation, bloating, gas are regular visitors at my Palace of the Body. To improve my digestion issues, I implemented step two, SMOOTHIES.

Smoothies are nothing new to me. My wife makes a smoothie for me 3 or 4 times per week. Green smoothies are the tool of our choice as the health benefits are everywhere from Good Morning America to Pinterest. As much as I see, read and hear about the goodness of smoothie, I haven’t really dove into the science behind it all. I take drink it, judge if it taste good, drink it all regardless and move on about my day. *shrugs* I’m getting better about doing my own research but for now… With my colon all cleansed and shiny like a new penny, I decided to put a solid week of smoothies in and report back to the #sickAF.

First up HAD to be a smoothie aimed at bowl movements! *straight face* Y’all know I am not playing about this. The taste was actually a strong B (Better than most) and YES, it produced a bowl movement within hours. Of the four, this had the most impact because it produced a bowl movement and as such, it will be a staple of my smoothie routine. I wouldn’t drink it everyday until I truly understood the implications of gas and bloating but this first week was outstanding.

Sweet Potato Smoothie (constipation)

Benefits:

Next up is one of my all time favorites, lemon blueberry ginger smoothie. I drink these as a preventative measure and can testify that I haven’t had a cold, flu or sinus infection in years. Of course, I do not think it is all due to smoothie consumption but I believe that smoothie lifestyle is a part of it. The taste of this one is about the same level as the Sweet Potato smoothie, strong B, but the ginger has a little less kick.

Lemon Blueberry Ginger Smoothie (Immune Boosting)

1/2 c –> vanilla greek yogurt

1/4 c –> fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp honey

1 c –> blueberries, frozen

1 tsp chopped, fresh, ginger

1 tsp lemon zest

Benefits

The Green Berry Smoothie is my absolute favorite of all four. In my eternal battle vs. the Incurable Trinity (MS, UC and Spondylosis), I have learned that inflammation is my greatest physical enemy. Inflammation directly leads to an exacerbation of the three diseases and slows my recovery time. My entire routine is based on avoiding inflammatories that I can and increasing my body’s ability to fight inflammation.

Green Berry Smoothie (anti-inflammatory)

Benefits

This was the 2nd newbie to my smoothie research. I don’t put much faith in the whole drink-this-you’ll-feel-happier tomfoolery. (Nope, I haven’t done the ayahuasca enough to be scared.) I’m trying this one behind the science got my attention. Bananas release sugar slowly so it is easier to control mood. That sounded like it made perfect sense so I jumped in and slid it into my routine. As of one week, it hasn’t done much I know of but that taste? MARVELOUS!

Mood Enhancing Smoothie

Benefits

Previous Related Post: MS and Constipation. How I “fixed” my stomach

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